PFAS and Chlorine Removal: What's Really in Sydney's Tap Water

Every day, millions of Sydney households turn on the tap and trust what comes out. And for the most part, that trust is well placed — Sydney Water does a solid job. But even the best municipal water treatment leaves behind things you might not want in your drinking glass, on your skin, or running through your home.

What Is PFAS — and Why Should Sydney Residents Care?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used since the 1940s in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam. They're often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment — or in the human body.

In December 2025, new research made international headlines when a study linked PFAS contamination in drinking water to increased infant mortality rates. And it's not just an overseas problem. PFAS has been detected in multiple water catchments across New South Wales, including sites near Sydney. The Australian government has begun tightening guidelines, but the reality is these chemicals are already in our water supply — and they're not going anywhere without proper filtration.

Chlorine & Chloramine: The Hidden Trade-Off

Sydney Water uses chloramine — a combination of chlorine and ammonia — to disinfect the water supply. It's effective at killing bacteria and keeping water safe as it travels through hundreds of kilometres of pipes. But that protection comes at a cost.

Chloramine gives tap water that distinct "pool water" taste and smell. More importantly, it doesn't just affect what you drink — it affects your entire home:

How Our HydroTech Systems Remove PFAS & Chlorine

This is where Mint Home Filtration comes in. Our 3-stage whole-home HydroTech system is engineered specifically to tackle the contaminants that matter most to Sydney households:

Unlike a single under-sink or benchtop filter, a HydroTech system installs at your main water line — meaning every tap, every shower, every appliance in your home gets filtered water. You're not just protecting your drinking glass; you're protecting your skin, your hair, your laundry, and your family.

Why Whole-Home Filtration Beats a Single Tap Filter

A jug filter or single-tap filter might clean the water you drink — and that's better than nothing. But consider this: drinking water accounts for only about 1-2% of your household's total water use. The other 98% goes through your shower, washing machine, dishwasher, and bathroom taps — all unfiltered.

That means you're still showering in chlorinated water, breathing chloramine steam, washing clothes in chemically treated water, and exposing your skin to whatever else might be in your pipes. Whole-home filtration is the only way to address the full picture.

The Bottom Line: Cleaner Water, Every Tap

Sydney's water quality isn't terrible — but it's not as clean as it could be. PFAS contamination is an emerging concern that's not going away, and chloramine disinfection, while necessary, creates its own set of problems throughout your home.

The good news is that a professionally installed whole-home filtration system solves both problems — and does it in a way that's virtually invisible to your daily life. No filling jugs, no waiting for filters, no remembering which tap is the "good" one. Just clean, great-tasting water from every outlet in your home, backed by our lifetime warranty.